Oviya Ravi Week 3; More Than A Best Friend
Since I was young, my parents have always told me, time and time again, that one of my greatest strengths is my ability to make new friends. I was always a social butterfly, whether it was with my neighbors, my classmates, or even my teachers—I never hesitated to go up to someone and start talking to them. The relationships I make with the people around me have always defined who I am.
When I was in third grade, my family moved houses; this meant I also had to move schools. I wasn’t necessarily worried about it but it definitely took some adjusting to get used to a brand new environment. Little did I know that this change of schools would bring me one of the most important people in my life.
On a random Friday of fourth grade, a desk broke in the classroom. The only open desk was the one right next to me, so, naturally, I helped the girl move her books from her now broken desk into her new desk. She barely spoke a word and in that moment, I would have never in a million years thought that she would become the person I go to for everything.
Now that we were elbow partners, we started talking more and more until we were inseparable. The strongest memories I have from that school year are the two of us bursting out into uncontrollable laughter every time we worked together—our teacher nicknamed us “Giggles” because we were constantly laughing.
It would be an insult to simply call her my “best friend.”
She is the person who knows me inside and out; she can sense my emotions without me saying a single word. Sometimes I think she can read my mind because of how quickly she can decipher my random thoughts and feelings. There was one day during lunch where I was just incredibly anxious for no apparent reason; she opened my backpack, handed me my airpods, took my phone, and started queuing songs on Spotify that she knew would make me feel better. I have never felt more known than I did at that moment. As I always tell her, she is “a part of my brain.”
I am no longer the social butterfly I was when I was younger; I don’t feel as comfortable talking to new people or stepping outside of my comfort zone when it comes to social situations. Despite this, feeling lonely or like I have no one to talk to is not a feeling I ever have to experience. To me, she is the single constant in my life; the person I can turn to no matter what. She is my “more than a best friend.”
Hi Oviya! Fate sure does work in mysterious ways. I'm glad that you have found someone so precious to you, even if you didn't know it would happen in that moment. I have to disagree with you not being a social butterfly because I remember the first time we met and you were so welcoming, instantly making me feel comfortable around you.
ReplyDeleteOviya, I would like to start with pointing out how the symmetry of the image you chose for your blog mirrors the symmetry of the butterfly (as in, butterflies as creatures have symmetrical wings) that you mention in the first few lines, which I find to be a nice connection (intentional or not!). The part where you dedicate a paragraph to the one assertion of refusing to call your most intimate relationship a simple “best friend” sort of bond is so moving; I really admire the closeness between you and your dearest friend and the fact that you two are practically two sides of the same coin, knowing each other so thoroughly and deeply. That part about her soothing your anxiety is just so wholesome—reading this would be something I could describe in the weekly survey’s smiles section if it were within the timeframe. The acceptance you describe at the end is also very comforting. Seeing that you’ve lost your butterfly wings in terms of sociability but have come to embrace the good that has come from that part of your life is very validating. I feel genuinely happy after reading such a beautiful way to illustrate this friendship of yours!
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